Improvement in smut and wheat-separating machines



W. H. WASH.

Smut and Wheat Separating Machine.

No. 111,794. Patented'Feb. 14, 1871.

flak G van/K96 14 wins. FholbLilhnaliphor, Washington. 0, c1

tilt" time an aim WILLIAM H. WASH, OF HOWARDSVILLE, VIRGINIA.

Letters Patent No. 111,794, dated February 14, 1871; antedated February 1, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT lN SMUT AND'WHEAT-SEPARATING MIKZHINES.-

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent andmaking part of the same.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it knoivn'that I, WILLIAM H. Wash, of How-- opcratiiw-shaft in two parts, driven at different velocities.

Second, in the combination of a blast and an exhaust-fan, with the heater or disks so arranged and operating as that the lattershall exhaustfrom the beater ohamher the air forced in by the blast-fan, and thus reinforce its otherwise gradually failing velocity.

Third, in the arrangement of a self-adjusting valve, whereby the discharge of the grain from the beater into the air-passage is more evenly dis tributed,and its discharge from the lower portion of the cylinder is partially arrested.

l onrtln'the arrangement of the convert or curved chute to insure the delivery of the grain in athin flat sheet to be acted on by the blast in its passage to the heater-cylinder, all as hereinafter more particularly described To enable others to make and use my invention, 1 will describe its construction and operation by refer ring to the drawing, in which-- A represents the irameof the machine, in which is arranged a vertical shaft, B, revolving in a step, 0, at its lower end, anda collar or sleeve, 1), at its upper" end. i

In line with this shaft, and what may be termed an extension of it, is anothen shaft, B, revolving 'in the same sleeved), at its lower end, and in a suitable hearing, E, at its upper end.

These shafts receive their motion from anysuitahle driving-power, the lower one through the pulley F, which, in turn,communicates motion at a greater velocity by means of a belt, H, around thc'pulloyG at its upper end, and pulley I on thecoui'iter-shaft J thence, by belt K, around the pulley L on the countenshaft, find pulley M on the lower end of the shaft- Around the shaft B is a cylinder or easing,N, in which is the heater 1?, secured on said shaft so as to rotate with it. This beater consists of two heads, P I", of concave V studded with prongs p of pyramidal form. The lower head I is also ribbedor corrugated aroundits periphery,.as shown The concavities of these heads, with their prongs pand ribbed periphery of the lower one, are designed to obtain the largest amount of heating surface within a ,cylindeixof moderate size. These two heads 1 and P are also provided with V61? tically-arranged paddles or blades 7), which extend from one to the other, and are set radially around the axis, or nearly so.

On the upper shaftB', and within the chambers c c, are secured the fans Q, Q, the former being of somewhat smaller dimensions than the latter, for the reasons hereinafter set forth.

I A screen, It, is arranged at the upper part of the apparatus, over a hopper or ohute, S, and is pivoted at its one end to springing standards T, and sustained at its opposite end by straps orotherfiexible material, V, insuch manner that said end may be raised or lowered to vary the inclination of the screen. A shakin motion is communicated to it by an eccentric, 71,.

o h -on the'upper end of the shalt B, revolving in contact with a block, I, on'the screen.

In the bottomof the hopper S is a series of spouts, 1', through which the 'graimafter it has been freed of stones and sticks. or other coarse refuse by the screen, passes down onto a curved metal incline, k, and in assin over this curve it becomes s read into a thin sheet, and thence falls through a current of air passing as indicated by the arrows e 0', when the heavier portion will fall down the chute V into the beater-cyliuder N, while that of inferior quality will be drawn by the air into the chamber X, where the dust is'separated from it, leaving all that is too heavy to beraised by the air-current to deposit at the bottom of said chamber and pass out through the valve g.

The grainthat has passed down chute W into the cylinder N is subjected to a beating and rubhingprocess by the prongs-p, heaters b, and ribbed portions in of the revolving heater 1, and passes out through the self-closing valve 1, which is weighted to' require a given pressure of air to open it, while the dust and scourings separated in the cylinder N are carried by the blast through the screen in, in direct-ion of the arrows 0, through the chamber X. The grain, in discharging through the valve 1 to the chute n, is subjected toanother current of air from the blast-passage 9', which carries all small particles, such as gravel, sand, or cocklc, through the screen t, while the cleaned grain passes down through said chute n. i

From the above description it will be seen that the grain, in its passage through the machine, is subjectform on their upper'sides', which arev ed to the action of a blast-fan, Q, and a vacuum-fan,

Q, operating at the. two ends of a continuous air-pas sage through the entire apparatus, by which an equal velocity of the current may be maintained in its -passage through the machine. from its ingress on the under side of the blast-fan Q to its egress on the'periph-' cry of the exhaust or vaenumsfan Qjancl, the several passages through'which such current of air passes being controlled by valves 1: c c, its force may he equalized or adjusted as desired at everypoint where v the grain is subjected to its action.

The several. currents of air, which may he termed supplyand exhaust, are indicated ,by the arrows marked 8, c, and-e.

Having thus fully described niy improved machine,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

.1. The arrangement of't-he main shafts B B, in combination with-the counter-shaft J and their respective pulleys and hands, for operation substantially as set forth.

'2. The arrangement of the blast and exhaustans Qand Q and their respective air-passages with rela:

tion to the beaterjl and separator X, iasueh manner that the blast from the fan Q is taken up anddischarged by thatQ', as shownl'and describedl 3. The farrangernent of the weighted valve lat the grain-exit-of the cylinder N, to prevent the escape of grain except under a pressure ot'air sufficient to open said valve, as specified.

4.. The arrangement of the convex or curved chute.

k beneath thehoppeiyrwherehy the grain from the tubes f is delivered to the air-blast in a thin ,broad sheet, as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand before two subscribing witnesses this 23d day 0f March, 1870.

WM. H. WASH.

Witnesses:

N. H; Homomqss, J. R. LAMSON. 

